[June 18, 2014]SPRINGFIELD – More than 3,500 Illinois
FFA high school students – including members of the Hartsburg-Emden
FFA Chapter – participated in the 2014 Illinois State FFA Convention
at the Prairie Capital Convention Center in Springfield.

The 86th annual convention featured a “Planting Your Potential”
theme inspired by the 2013-2014 Illinois State FFA Officer team. The
three-day event celebrates the organization’s annual successes and
includes motivational speakers, recognition of individual and
chapter achievement, addresses from retiring officers, and election
of a new state officer team.

The American Star award recognizes outstanding FFA
members who have earned the American FFA Degree and have excelled in
their supervised agricultural experience. Three Illinois FFA members
have been recommended for this honor and will compete as an American
Star Finalist at the National FFA Convention in Louisville KY in
October.

The Illinois Association FFA is part of the National FFA
Organization, formerly known as the Future Farmers of America.
More than 17,500 students are in enrolled 326 different FFA
chapters in the State of Illinois. FFA is a national youth
organization of 557,318 student members – all preparing for
leadership and careers in the science, business, and technology
of agriculture. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference
in the lives of students by developing their potential for
premier leadership, personal growth and career success through
agricultural education. Visit
www.illinoisffa.org
for more information.